By Love Wilhelmina Abanonave
Transport Minister Joseph Bukari Nikpe has proposed diverting heavy transport from roads to coastal and inland water bodies, citing potential cost savings and improved safety. By utilizing waterways, the government aims to reduce maintenance costs, as water routes require dredging rather than constant upkeep.
“We should remove heavy transport from our roads to our coastal and inland water bodies. It would be cheaper because there would be no need to maintain the water, just dredging,” he said.
Mr. Nikpe highlighted that shifting to water transport could lower accident-related deaths and injuries compared to road transport.
Addressing challenges with the Volta Lake Transport Company Limited during the Public Accounts Committee hearing on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, Mr. Nikpe revealed that the company needed to seek private sector partnerships, similar to the airport model, in order to enhance services for Ghanaians, as it was facing poor vessel maintenance.
He revealed that he had instructed the Volta Lake Transport Company to reach out to relevant agencies for support. The Minister emphasized opening up the Volta Lake to private participation, as it is currently limited to government operations, to boost efficiency. According to him, discussions with private vessel owners are underway to agree on a mutually beneficial percentage arrangement.
